Coppola's

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The first time I walked into Coppola’s, I found it difficult to suppress laughter. The Italian restaurant takes full advantage of its roots, which a very good friend and I discovered as we were greeted with a dramatic Italian aria loudly playing on the speakers. The walls are adorned with brass figurines of goddesses and pears, and candles and wine bottles decorate nearly every table. But the food, as we quickly learned, is no laughing matter.

Priding itself on its traditional Italian fare, Coppola’s could easily become an ideal “date restaurant” for Vassarions in search of a little romance, but the restaurant is surprisingly little known amongst the student crowd. Don’t let distance deter you; Coppola’s is less than a 10-minute walk from the campus’s North Gate.

The Zagat-rated restaurant offers all the typical Italian staples. Entrées typically fall under $20, and include such temptations as Potato Gnocchi with Vodka Sauce, Shrimp Scampi and Chicken Parmigiana. If you’re in the market for a quick seafood fix, you can order the Seafood à la Napolitana, which includes littlenecks, mussels, shrimp and calamari with red or white sauce, served over pasta. Vegetarians will find many options under the extensive pasta section of the menu, or they can opt for the Eggplant Parmigiana, which is served with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese and served sizzling.

The waitstaff are extremely attentive; our glasses of water were never allowed to empty, and the owner of the restaurant even stopped by to ensure that we were satisfied with our meals. The atmosphere is relaxing and romantic, if in a slightly cheesy way. The dining room is quite large, and the restaurant would have no trouble in accommodating large parties.

I was surprised to come upon Coppola’s; before I dined there somewhat accidentally, I was unaware that such a nice Italian restaurant existed within such close proximity to campus. Give it a try—if nothing else, it’s the perfect place to try out that Lady and the Tramp spaghetti noodle maneuver with your date.